China is leading the charge to nuclear Armageddon and Starmer barely noticed | Simon Tisdall

"Keir Starmer's tentative pivot to the Dragon Throne has played well in Beijing, though not in Trumpland. That's partly because, like other needy western leaders, Britain's prime minister did not dwell on awkward subjects such as human rights abuses, the Jimmy Lai travesty, spying and Taiwan. But in talks with President Xi Jinping, one vital issue was avoided altogether and should not have been: China's dangerous, unexplained, secretive and rapid buildup of nuclear weapons."

"More than the climate crisis, global hunger, Kaiser Trump's Prussian militarism and the ever prevalent threat of pandemic disease, the uncontrolled proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is the most immediate, existential threat to humanity. Last week, the Doomsday Clock advanced to 85 seconds to midnight closer to Armageddon than ever before. Nuclear disarmament diplomacy is at a standstill globally."

"On Thursday, New Start, the last remaining arms control treaty limiting US and Russian strategic nuclear forces, will expire. Meanwhile, a scary international nuclear arms race is raging unchecked, as detailed in the 2025 report of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri). Nearly all the nine nuclear-armed states the US, Russia, China, France, UK, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel are pursuing intensive nuclear modernisation programmes, Sipri reported, including new weapons such as hypersonic missiles and useable low-yield tactical nukes."

Keir Starmer pivoted toward closer ties with China while avoiding awkward topics including human rights, the Jimmy Lai case, spying, Taiwan and China's nuclear buildup. China's rapid, secretive expansion of nuclear forces raises urgent global risks. The Doomsday Clock moved to 85 seconds to midnight, indicating escalating existential danger. Nuclear disarmament diplomacy is stalled and the NPT review conference risks deadlock. New START is expiring. SIPRI reports that all nine nuclear-armed states are modernizing arsenals, developing hypersonic delivery systems and low-yield tactical weapons. An estimated 12,241 warheads exist, with about 9,614 in military stockpiles and the US and Russia holding roughly 90%.

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